Karen Armstrong

Karen Armstong is one of the most original and inclusive speakers on the role of religion in the modern world. Her bestselling books, including A History of God, and sought-after talks examine the differences and the profound similarities between Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, and their impact on world events. Highlights

“She is perhaps the world’s best-known living writer on religion” – The Globe and Mail As a result of her 2008 TED Prize, Karen Armstrong has recently set out to create The Charter for Compassion, a universal framework for understanding religion based on the principles of justice and respect; to complete it, she has reached out to the UN and to thousands of religious leaders. “We need to create a new narrative, get out of the rat-run of hatred, chauvinism and defensiveness; and make the authentic voice of religion a power in the world that is conducive to peace.”

A former Catholic nun who left the convent to study literature, Karen Armstrong is an authority on world faiths, religious fundamentalism and monotheism. Her poignant and captivating talks, spark worldwide debate and healthy discussion. Armstrong’s bestselling books include The Battle for God, The Spiral Staircase, The Great Transformation and, most recently, The Bible: A Biography. She was a key advisor on Bill Moyers’ landmark PBS series on religion, has addressed members of the U.S. Congress, and was one of three scholars to speak at the UN’s first ever session on religion. The Sunday Times calls her “a bridge between religions.”

In 2013, Karen won the inaugural British Academy Nayef Al-Rodhan Prize for Transcultural Understanding. The jury awarded the £25,000 prize in recognition of her body of work that has made a significant contribution to understanding the elements of overlap and commonality in different cultures and religions. Ms. Armstrong writes regularly for The Guardian and is at work on her thirteenth book about religion in the axial age.